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2023-12-31-accounts

St. John’s Housing Trust Report of the Trustees and Financial Statements

Charity Registration No. 1172228

Annual Report and Accounts 31 December 2023

Tandem Accounting Chartered Accountants 17 Heathville Road London N19 3AL

St. John’s Housing Trust

Report and Financial Statements 2023 Contents

Page
Legal and administrative information 2
Report of the Trustees 3
Independent Examiner's report to the Trustees 5
Statement of financial activities 6
Balance sheet 7
Notes to the financial statements 8

1

St. John’s Housing Trust

Legal and Administrative Information

Charity Name St. John’s Housing Trust
Charity Registration no. 1172228
Registration Date 23 March 2017
Registered Address St. John at Hackney Church
Lower Clapton Road
London, E5 0PD
Correspondence Address Hackney Church House
1 Spiller House
Prodigal Square
London, E8 1FX
Governing Document CIO-Foundation
Objectives St. John’s Housing Trust has been set up to assist those in need of accommodation,
accommodation maintenance, or financial assistance in the London Borough of
Hackney along with the advancement of Christian religion for the public benefit by the
provision and maintenance of accommodation for Church of England Clergy, Staff,
Interns and Volunteers.
Trustees The Trustees who served during the year or who were serving at the date this report was
approved were:
Rev’d Alexander Gordon
Sam Lawson Johnston
John Parmiter
Joshua Olomolaiye
Bankers CAF Bank
Independent Examiner John Helm ACA
Tandem Accounting
17 Heathville Road
London N19 3AL

2

ST. JOHN’S HOUSING TRUST

Report of the Trustees For the year ended 31 December 2023

St. John’s Housing Trust (“the Trust”) submits its report and the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2023. The financial statements have been prepared in the format prescribed by the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities (SORP2019 (FRS102)) and the Financial Reporting Standard 102. The legal and administrative information set out earlier in this document forms part of this report.

1. Structure, Governance and Management

1.1 Trustees

St John at Hackney (Charity Number 1158545) has the power to appoint all of the trustees of the Trust. Throughout 2023, the appointed Trustees were, Reverend Al Gordon, Mr Sam Lawson Johnston, Mr John Parmiter and Mr Joshua Olomolaiye.

The Trustees meet regularly throughout the year to discuss a full range of matters relating to finance, fabric, general administration and the objectives of the Trust.

2. Activities and Strategies

The Trustees have reviewed the activities and strategies of SJHT. The Trustees believe that the current activities of renting the held properties to people involved in the local promotion of Christian faith is in line with the objectives of the Trust.

3. Achievements and Performance

The Trust continues to rent out the two leasehold properties that were gifted in June 2020, in Blackburn House, Hackney Gardens. The two properties form the asset foundation for the objectives of the Trust. Both apartments are rented out to the clergy and staff of Hackney Parish.

4. Financial Review

4.1 Financial Activity and Financial Position

The Trust’s main source of income is from the rents of the leasehold properties.

The Statement of Financial Activities and Balance Sheet can be found on pages 6 and 7 respectively. The charities reserves decreased by £5,889 during the year (2022: decreased by £6,794). The balance sheet shows total net assets of £429,483 (2022: £435,373).

4.2 Reserves Policy

The Trustees have examined the requirements for free reserves, i.e. those unrestricted funds not invested in tangible fixed assets. The Trustees consider that, given the nature of the Trust’s objectives, free reserves should be equivalent to approximately 6 months’ routine general fund expenditure, plus committed and forecast future expenditure on other projects, where funds permit. In addition, the Trustees intend to hold sufficient reserves to cover any potential future assessments on the Leasehold building. At 31 December 2023 the Trust had net free reserves of £11,733 (2022: £8,623) as follows:


Total reserves
Less: tangible fixed assets held for the long term
Free reserves
Free reserves requirement:
6 month’s budgeted routine expenditure
2023 2022
£
435,373
(426,750)
£
429,483
(417,750)
8,623
11,733
5,000
5,000

3

ST. JOHN’S HOUSING TRUST

Report of the Trustees

For the year ended 31 December 2023

4.3 Grants Policy

The task of deciding how to distribute grants is undertaken by the Trustees. All grants follow the Trust’s charitable objectives.

4.4 Risk assessment and mitigation

The risks which the organisation faces have been considered and measures will be implemented to ensure that appropriate systems, policies and procedures are in place to manage and mitigate the risks. These risks, including health and safety are being mitigated through modern management systems and practices. As a matter of general policy, independent professional advice is taken where appropriate.

5. Plans for Future Periods

The short and medium term plan is to continue with the same objectives and activities in support of them.

6. Responsibilities of Trustees for the Financial Statements

The trustees are responsible for preparing the report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice. Charity law in England and Wales requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Trust and of the incoming resources and application of resources of the Trust for that period.

In preparing those financial statements, the trustee is required to:

The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Trust and enables them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the governing document. The Trustees are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Trust and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

7. Approval

The report of the Trustees was approved by the Trustees on 18 October 2024 and signed on its behalf by:

John Parmiter Trustee

4

ST. JOHN’S HOUSING TRUST

Report of the Independent Examiner to the Trustees of St John’s Housing Trust

I report on the financial statements of St John’s Housing Trust for the year ended 31 December 2023, set out on pages 6 to 10.

This report is made solely to the Trustees in accordance with section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Act). My independent examination has been undertaken so that I might state to the Trustees those matters I am required to state to them in an independent examiner’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by the law, I do not accept responsibility to anyone other than the Trust and the Trustees for my independent examination, for this report, or the opinions I have formed.

RESPECTIVE RESPONSIBILITIES OF TRUSTEES AND EXAMINER

The Trustees consider that an audit is not required for this period (under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011) and that an independent examination is needed.

It is my responsibility to:

BASIS OF INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S STATEMENT

My examination was carried out in accordance with General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the Trust and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the Trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the accounts.

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S STATEMENT

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:

  1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by section 130 of the Act; or

  2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or

  3. the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair view’ which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

John Helm ACA 18 October 2024

5

ST. JOHN’S HOUSING TRUST

Statement of Financial Activities For the year ended 31 December 2023

Note
Income from:
2
Donations and legacies
Charitable activities
Investments
Total Income
Expenditure on:
Charitable activities
3
Total Expenditure
Net gains/(losses) on
investments
Net Income
Transfers between funds
Other recognised gains/(losses)
Net movement in funds
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward
2023 2022
£
-
32,181
31














£
-
34,800
57
32,212
34,857
39,006
40,747
39,006
40,747
-
-
(6,794)
(5,890)
-
-
-
-
(6,794)
442,167
(5,890)
435,373
435,373
429,483

6

ST. JOHN’S HOUSING TRUST

Report of the Trustees For the year ended 31 December 2023

Note
Fixed Assets
Tangible Assets
4
Current Assets
Cash At Bank And In Hand
Creditors - Amounts Falling Due Within
One Year
5
Net Current Assets
Net Assets
Represented by:
Unrestricted Income Funds
Total Funds
2022
£
426,750
2023
£
417,750
426,750
42,216
417,750
15,953
42,216
33,593
15,953
4,220
8,623
11,733
435,373
429,483
435,373
429,483
435,373
429,483

The financial statements were approved by the trustees on 18 October 2024 and signed on its behalf by:

John Parmiter Trustee

7

ST. JOHN’S HOUSING TRUST

Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2023

1. Accounting Policies

The principal accounting policies adopted, judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty in the preparation of the financial statements are as follows:

Basis of accounting

The financial statements have been prepared under the Charities Act 2011 and in accordance with the Charities Statement of Recommended Practice (Charities SORP 2019 (FRS 102)). The financial statements are drawn up on the historical cost basis of accounting except for the initial valuation of freehold land and buildings.

The financial statements include all transactions, assets and liabilities for which the trustees are responsible in law.

The Trust meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102.

Going Concern

There are no material uncertainties about the Trust’s ability to continue as a going concern and accordingly the accounts have been drawn up on a going concern basis.

Income recognition

Voluntary income and donations are accounted for once the Trust has entitlement to the income, it is probable the income will be received, and the amount of income receivable can be reliably measured.

The income from charitable activities includes rental income from the letting of leasehold properties which is accounted for when earned. It is shown gross, with the associated costs included in the expenditures.

Interest on funds held on deposit is included when receivable and the amount can be measured reliably by the Trust; this is normally upon notification of the interest paid or payable by the bank.

Expenditure recognition

Expenditure is accrued as soon as a liability is considered probable, and the amount of obligation can be measured reliably. Longer term liabilities are discounted to present value. The Trust is not registered for VAT and accordingly expenditure includes irrecoverable VAT where appropriate.

Charitable expenditure includes those costs in fulfilling the Trust’s principal objects, as outlined in the Annual Report. These include governance costs and support costs. Governance costs comprise all costs involving the public accountability of the Trust and its compliance with regulation and good practice. These costs include costs related to the independent examination and legal fees.

Tangible Fixed Assets

The leasehold land and buildings are depreciated on a straight line basis over the effective useful life of the asset, which has been estimated as 50 years.

Debtors

Debtors are included at the settlement amount due. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid.

Cash at bank and in hand

Cash at bank and in hand includes cash and short term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or less from the date of opening of the deposit.

Creditors and provisions

Creditors and provisions are recognised where the Trust has a present obligation arising from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors and provisions are recognised at their settlement amount.

8

ST. JOHN’S HOUSING TRUST

Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2023

2. Income

2. Income
Charitable Activities
Lettings income
Investments
Bank Interest
Unrestricted
Funds
2023
£
Restricted
Funds
2023
£
34,800
-
57
-
34,857
0
Total
2022
£
32,212
31
Total
2023
£
34,800
57
32,243
34,857

3. Expenditure on Charitable Activities

Repairs & maintenance
Depreciation
Grants made (Ecclesiastical Parish of St John at Hackney)
Office costs
Bank fees
Governance – independent examination
Unrestricted
Funds
2023
£
Restricted
Funds
2023
£
5,611
-
9,000
-
25,200
-
202
-
74
-
660
-
40,747
0
Total
2022
£
3,746
9,000
25,200
245
95
720
Total
2023
£
5,611
9,000
25,200
202
74
660
39,006
40,747

9

ST. JOHN’S HOUSING TRUST

Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2023

4. Tangible Fixed Assets

4. Tangible Fixed Assets
Leasehold
land &
buildings
£
Cost/valuation
At 1 January 2023 450,000
Additions -
Disposals -
At 31 December 2023 450,000
Depreciation
At 1 January 2023 23,250
Charge for Period 9,000
Disposals -
At 31 December 2023 32,250
Net Book Value
At 31 December 2023 417,750
At 31 December 2022 426,750

The leasehold land and buildings are represented by two residential flats: 3 and 10 Blackburn House, Prodigal Square, London E8 1FX. The flats were granted to the Trust as part of a s106 agreement with the developers of the new residential scheme adjacent to St John’s Church, for nil consideration. The initial valuation of the flats was provided by William Saxby, Chartered Surveyors. The leases are for 254 years (less three days) from and including 12 October 2017.

5. Creditors - Amounts Falling Due Within One Year

Deposits held
Accruals
Due to Hackney Church
Trade Creditors
2023 2022
£
2,900
660
26,468
3,565
33,593
£
2,900
1,320
-
-
4,220

6. Related Party Transactions

All of the trustees are also members of the Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of St John at Hackney (charity reg no 1158545) (“the PCC”). The Trust made grants to the PCC totalling £25,200 (2022: £25,200). At 31 December 2023 the PCC owed the charity £nil (2022: £nil).

The Trustees made £nil (2022: £nil) donations to the Trust during the year.

10